Ragnar

I am not really sure why spending 30 hours in a car with no shower and no sleep is fun, but it really is. Except this year, I was not allowed to run because of my broken foot. Jack took my place. He was way faster than I would have been. But I came along anyway as van chauffeur/entertainer extraordinaire. I don't want to brag or anything, but I think I was a perfect fit for the job.

Except for when I thought that I had dropped the car keys in the porta-potty. I can laugh now, but I was less than amused when I was digging around on my desperate search. (Don't worry, the keys were found safe and sound under another team's van.) And I totally secured my prize as "most dedicated team member". Which makes it totally worth it. (Right?)

did you hear?

I broke my foot.

Which wouldn't be so bad if the weather out here weren't perfect for running and frolicking in the great outdoors. And if the Ragnar Relay weren't this weekend, and if my marathon weren't coming up in 6 weeks.

Needless to say, I am not running Ragnar. Even though I am the team captain. BUT my new coworker is probably running in my place, which makes me feel good that I could make the new guy feel welcome. Yippee.

first day

We went back to school today (finally). As wonderful as my summer was, it was great to be back discussing really important things like exactly how old Bill Clinton is (trust me, it relates) to why you can't win a track meet if you run in the wrong direction.

My juniors are delightful. So delightful, in fact, that even the most crotchety teachers can only think of good things to say about them. And when you can get Adam the history teacher to say good things about you, you have won a very hard-fought battle. (Again, you're going to have to trust me on this one.)

just in case

Just in case you ever wondered what teachers do before school starts, I will tell you.

First, we sit through hours of meetings that have no known purpose.

Then, just as we think we are going to die of boredom, we start playing pranks on one another. And suddenly, life is much better.

sad news

Okay, not only is this my last week of summer, but I also learned some terrible news today.

My copy of Mockingjay is not even shipping until the 30th!!! The copy that I pre-ordered so that I would have it the day it came out!!

(Okay, so maybe I pre-ordered because it was half price. But still!)

Life is hard.

holy cow

I only have one week of summer left.

Seriously.

Then I have to actually get up in the mornings. And go to work. And leave my house every day! Not sure what I'm going to do with myself.

But until then, I have been thoroughly enjoying the every last bit of summer by moving to Virginia, buying a bike, spending time at the pool, and convincing my former roommate that it might be time for her to pay the utility bill. (We're still working on that last one.)

inventory

Moving forces you to take inventory of the things you own, whether you like it or not.

Turns out my possessions fall into the following categories:

32% clothing

32% furniture

32% books

3% sports/athletic/outdoor gear (which will increase when I buy my new road bike this week)

1% everything else

I have my priorities, okay?

hehe

I just invited a bunch of people over for a barbecue Sunday night.

What they don't know is that Sunday also happens to be the day that my furniture will need to be moved from my room to the basement.

I'm sneaky.

you are SOOOO welcome

Hey, did you guys know that you can now pay your tithing using your bank's online billpay?

It's true. You can.

They announced this in my ward's Relief Society a few weeks ago. Out of the 200 women sitting in RS that week, I think I was the only person listening.

I might have started clapping.

But ever since then, every single person I have mentioned this to acts shocked. They all want to know where on earth I learned such a thing.

(In relief society, obviously. The same Relief Society that they were sitting in. (I think this might tell us something interesting about Relief Society "announcement time". Maybe. I'm just saying...))

And then they want to hug me. And be my best friend. It's almost like I invented it myself. (I didn't. I just know how to do it. And now I am exploiting it so that people will like me.)

dear bethany,

I made giant home-made oreos the other day. Thought of you. Wish you were here.

Love,
Poodle

3 weeks

Only 3 weeks of summer left. I can't say I'm ready for it to end.

But tomorrow I leave for Nashville to spend the weekend playing with Bexie and her kids. And hopefully taking in some good country music.

And then I get to dog-sit for my coworker. He thinks I'm doing him a huge favor, but really I get to spend 5 days playing with his dog, eating his food, and watching his TV (and scooping up a little bit of dog turd along the way). (He thinks I need to be a live-in dog sitter. People around here love their dogs. Fine by me.)

And everybody keep your fingers crossed that I will find a place to live by the 15th. Please, I would rather not sleep in my car.

Right now....

I am wishing summer would move just a little bit slower. I am really enjoying this whole no work and all play thing. Just over a month left.

I am looking forward to a trip to the rodeo this weekend. Nothing beats bull riding, mutton busting, and fair food.

On a more serious note, I am making steps towards buying both a bike and a house. I think the house is a slightly bigger deal than a bike, but both are stressful. I have a hard time with large purchases, in case you didn't know. But if I'm ever going to do a triathlon, I need a bike. And if I'm ever going to feel like a real grown-up, I need a house. (or condo. whatever.)

brother

I have recently been informed that I never talk about my brother. Apparently a few people thought I didn't have one.

I do. I like him.

We were totally partners in crime when we were little. Then I turned into a poodle, and as it turns out, poodles do not make the best partners in crime.

But now he has what might be the cutest child on the planet.

summertime!

Summer is finally here. All I can say is, it's a good thing May went by so fast. Otherwise I would have been royally annoyed by the fact that I was still in school on June 11. As it were, I thought it was still May, and being in school during the month of May is nothing to be annoyed by.

I am already on my summer schedule of staying up until 3 am. I am not, however, sleeping this summer away. Instead, I have all kinds of plans.

I am going to become a better tennis player. I have been practicing for a few weeks with my coworkers after school, and am already light years ahead of where I was before. Which still does not mean that I am particularly good, but I'm getting there.

I am going to read a LOT of books. I've already finished a couple, and started a new one called The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake. So far, so good.

I am going to start a new blog. One all about teaching. It's already started, actually, but is not ready for public viewing. (Don't worry, this one is not going anywhere.)

I will find a new item to grill every week. Today it was strawberry shortcake. It is true that everything tastes better off the grill.

Best of all, I am going to spend as much time as possible out in the sunshine. (Most likely reading books in the sunshine.)

Oh. And I am not going to hate girl's camp. I'm convinced of it.

Dear Bexar,

How am I supposed to be your favorite sister when you never answer your phone?

Love,
Poodle

okay, okay. here i am.

Just in case you were wondering, I am still alive. And doing well, thank you very much. My days are filling up nicely, which means that I will thoroughly enjoy the end of the school year. (Which is coming up in exactly 5 days. Not that I'm counting....)

Weekly routine:
Monday: Tutoring, followed by the latest episode of The Bachelorette and grilling anything and everything that can be grilled. (bananas, pineapple, stuffed peppers, corn, and the list goes on.)

Tuesday: Tennis Tuesday! I am getting SO good. (As long as you're okay with having a flexible definition of "good".)

Wednesday: more tutoring and being Ashley's personal shopper.

Thursday: more tutoring

Friday: take a nap.

dearest may,

No offense, but I don't really remember much about you.

I hope I get along a little better with June.

Regretfully,
Poodle

dear ashley,

your job sucks.

but i still love you.

your favorite sister,

poodle

books. (surprise, surprise)

Now that I am officially done teaching seniors I have all kinds of time on my hands. Which means a book order from Amazon.

I am currently reading The Space Between Us, which is taking me forever. (Mainly because it's not as great as I want it to be. Okay, but not great.)

So I went ahead and ordered Physics of the Impossible (physics that could theoretically explain invisibility cloaks and other such things. awesome.) Ella Minnow Pea (I have no idea what this book is about, but it's been on my amazon wish list for forever) and Let the Great World Spin (I hear it's excellent. I hope it doesn't disappoint.)

Anyone have any other recommendations? It seems I've hit a rut.

good news bad news

Okay, so I have some good news and I have some bad news.

Bad news: I am not going to Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia this summer like I had planned.

Good news: I am going go Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia next summer! Why? Because I think I can get my school to pay for it. Sometimes they're nice like that.

Bad news: I do not have a summer job.

Good news: I have been tutoring for the past few months, which pays WAY better than summer school does and is tax-free. So don't you worry, I can still afford to go to Italy and Greece this summer. And visit Bexar. And spend a lot of time reading books by the pool.

Bad news: I am out of bad news. Turns out being me is pretty easy these days.